The Canterbury Pilgrims eBook

Meanwhile the false knight, his brother, was made
sheriff of the county, in spite of his injured back,
and immediately he set a price on his young brother’s
head, and declared him outlawed. He sent out
all his men to search for Gamelyn and to bring him
to trial; but, though they would have been glad to
earn the reward, they were sorry for Gamelyn’s
sake. At last some of them were lucky enough to
meet Gamelyn in the woods, but, instead of arresting
him, they fell on their knees and told him of his
brother’s treachery. “I ought to have
broken his neck outright,” he said. “Go
back to your master. I will see him again if
I die for it.”

So one day, when the sheriff was sitting among his
council in the great moot-hall, in stalked Gamelyn,
and, throwing back his hood, showed his face to them
all. “God be with you all,” he said,
“except with you, hunch-backed sheriff!
Why have you shamed me and our father’s house
by declaring me outlawed?” The false knight did
not reply but called in his men, and in spite of his
struggles Gamelyn was overwhelmed and cast into prison.

Now Gamelyn had another brother, the second son of
their father, named Sir Ote, as good a knight as ever
wore spurs. When he heard all the disgrace that
had fallen on Gamelyn for no cause, he was wroth,
and taking his horse he rode to the town. “Brother,”
he said to the sheriff, “there are only three
of us, and you have imprisoned the best of us all.
Evil befall such brothers as you! Let Gamelyn
out of prison till the justices come to try him, and
I will be his security.”

“Take him, but if he fails to appear on the
day of trial, you shall bear the sentence for him,”
answered the eldest brother.

“Be it so,” said Sir Ote. “Bring
him to me.” So Gamelyn was delivered to
his brother, and stayed with him that night, but, in
the morning, announced that he must go to the woods
to see how his men fared. “That will be
evil for me,” said Sir Ote. “Unless
you return in time for the trial I shall be made prisoner
instead of you.” “Brother,”
replied Gamelyn, “do not be afraid. If God
spares my life and wits I will come back.”
“God shield you,” said the other.
“Go, and return when you think fit.”

The outlaws were right glad to see their leader again
and had many tales of adventure to tell him.
Once more he led them on their expeditions against
rich abbots and priors and such haughty men. But
the poor loved him, for he never touched their goods.
While Gamelyn and his men made merry in the forest,
the false knight, his brother, was busy riding through
the country to collect the jury for the trial.
He took care to have only those men who, for money,
would promise to have Gamelyn hanged, and, sad to
say, it did not take long to find a sufficient number
of rascals who would do what he wanted. When
the time for the trial drew nigh, Gamelyn prepared
to appear before the magistrate. “Make
ready,” he said to his men. “When
the justice holds his court, we must all be there.
For I am bound to go, or my brother will be sent to
prison instead of me.” The outlaws were
not unwilling, and they set out in a body, with their
weapons ready for any emergency.